GPS / PLOTTER

[Codfather]

Hi,
I\'ve been looking at the Garmin 172 and Bluechart for the northeast coast, for my first gps / plotter to find some wrecks on my little reiver sportsman and keep me on the right track safety wise.

Any advice or reviews on this model would be apreciated and any ideas on wear is best price wise.

My old eagle fishfinder should do me as I\'ve sussed it works when moveing really slow, so should help pick up the wrecks.

Any idea\'s greatly appreciated .

[DaveMason]

I have the garmin 182c and bluechart system . You need not look any further its the mutts nutts , you will find every wreck for miles with pinpoint accuracy every time . It is so accurate you can switch the finder off and just drift over the mark , knowing for sure your on it .

Buy a copy of practical boat owner for the latest prices , Pumpkin Marine are good but there are plenty on offer .

[Edited on 23/5/2005 by DaveMason]

[Codfather]

Thats what I like to hear Dave.

The 172c that I am looking at is similar spec to your 182c but has a slightly smaller screen.

Prices are coming in around the £400 mark for the 172c plotter itself and aroun £150 for the bluechart data card.

I\'d best start rounding up some pennies then, so I can hopefull get some use out of it this season.

[Codfather]

[IMG=400x300]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/hawkeyemg/2005_0425westlife0090.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG=400x300]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/hawkeyemg/2005_0425westlife0093.jpg[/IMG]

A couple of pics of the new boat , if I\'ve sussed out how to post pic\'s that is

[CJS]

I have the 182c, cant falt it. Best card price £139.00. The put the ballance in me mate has a Lowrance 3300, cheaper on thwe hardware, but the Navionics card is pricy at nearly £200, ouch! The one thing I can say is the the Garmin UK service is tops. Had ocasion to use it 4 years ago, they could not have been more helpfull
Cliff Stone